File:Mackerel steaks in tomato onion sauce (2254411745).jpg

My dad's recipe

Clean 8 mackerel steaks and make cuts on the sides of the pieces that are thick. Mix 2 tsp chilli powder + 1 tsp turmeric powder + salt + few drops of water to make a thick paste. Coat the exposed meat of the mackeral with the paste and also push some down the cuts in the fish pieces <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rovingi/2206581316/">(pic here)</a>. Keep aside.

Grind to a fine paste 2 medium onions + 3 cloves garlic by adding some water. Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a fry pan. Add 1 tsp mustard seeds + 1 sprig curry leaves + 1" finely chopped ginger fry for 10 seconds. Add the onion paste and fry for 15-20 minutes stirring occassionally until the paste is dry. Add 1 tsp cumin powder + 1tsp garam masala + 1 tbsp corriander powder + 1 tsp chilli powder and mix well. Add 2 chopped tomatoes + 3 chopped green chillies and fry for 15 minutes while stirring until the sauce is well blended. Remove from heat and keep aside.

Add sufficient sunflower oil to a thick bottomed fry pan to fry the fish. Depth of oil should ne ~1cm. Wait until the oil is slightly smoking. Add the fish pieces and fry on both sides until done and crisp on the outside <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/rovingi/2205793869/in/photostream/">(pic here)</a>

Place the sauce back on the heat and add 1 cup of water. When the sauce starts to boil, add salt + 1 tbsp kasturi methi (dry fenugreek leaves) + a few squirts of tomato ketchup.. Boil for 5 min while stirring.